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Fantasy Hockey 2010 – Make Room for the Specialist

It’s late in the draft and you’re starting to lose focus. You have one spot left to fill and all the good ones have been filled. At this point, you take the next guy on the list with the most points and end the day. I am here to tell you that there is a better way. It’s called “Specialist”.

In general, when ranking your players, you should focus on the types that can include it in all stat categories. Guys like Ovechkin, Malkin and Perry are a dream as they get goals, assists and aren’t afraid to add a couple of PIMs to the roster every night as well. But what about those one-dimensional types? The bully. The Power Play specialist. The guys who shine in one of the lesser-known stats, but don’t rack up points like fantasy studs. Is there room on your list for one of these men?

The bottom line is that it depends on the league. Some leagues (like ESPN) have a lot of roster spots to fill. By the time you pick your 10th striker in a 12-team league, the selections are scarce. Other leagues (like most Yahoo formats) actually weight these “other stats” the same way they weight goals and assists. We tend to focus on points, but in these formats, penalty minutes, +/-, Power Play goals, and even shots on goal can count the same. If you’re in such a league, you should consider adding a specialist to your roster with a late pick. For Yahoo’s leagues, your last defender (or two) may be the go-to place for these guys. While they won’t add to your balance, the right specialist could earn a stat category for you. Here are some types worth considering that you won’t find in most point-based cheat sheets, but that can give you a head start as a late pick.

Note: I leave out +/- as it is almost impossible to predict this statistic and it means almost nothing …

The Goons: the obvious stuntman. Sit back and watch the guaranteed PIMs stack up here:

* Zenon Konopka (F – VG) – 265 PIM, 5 points. Unlike many bullies, Konopka is a regular in the lineup, so you can count on his contributions every week.

* Colton Orr (F – BOS) – 239 PIMS, 6 points. Like Konopka, Orr is a fixture on his list.

Matt Carkner (D – OTT) – 190 PIM, 11 points from a defender. It’s not a bad mix.

* Sheldon Brookbank (D – ANA) – 114 PIM, 9 points. Brookbank was also a steady +10 last season.

Here are a few more well-known ones that add points to the pack and can be selected in their league:

* Steve Downie (F – TB) – Will probably go sooner than it’s worth. If he can repeat last season, he is a goalkeeper.

* Daniel Carcillo (F – PHI) – 12 goals to complement his more than 200 minute penalty.

* Scott Hartnell (F – PHI) – 44 points and 155 PIMs means he will be sacked at some point.

* Sean Avery (F – NYR) – Capable of more than the 31 points / 160 PIM he produced last season

* Steve Ott (F – DAL): 20+ goals, 150+ PIMs is a good set of stats for a late round

* Wayne Simmonds (F – LA) – 116 PIM, close to the league leaders at +/-. You should add points to your resume this year.

The Powerplay Specialist: These guys get an inordinate percentage of their goals in powerplay:

Teemu Selanne (F – ANA): His 48 points and his status as an old man can make many turn away, but he is still a sniper in the power play. He tied for third in the league last season with 14 points per game from just 54 games.

* Tomas Holmstrom (F – DET) – He persists in the NHL for one reason: to stand in front of the net in the power play. He has averaged about 10 power games per season throughout his career.

* Andrew Brunette (F – MIN) – I’ve been to a lot of drafts this season and I haven’t seen his name once. He regularly puts out 10 points per game per season.

* Ryan Smyth (F – LA) – Half of his 22 goals last season came in the power game. He is regularly among the league leaders in that category, even if his total points exceed 60.

* Brian Gionta (F – MON) – Once scored 24 points per game in one season. Last year, he achieved 10.

Trigger Happy – These guys will rack up the shots on goal, while the points are woefully behind:

* Patrick Hornqvist (F – NAS) – It is true that he reached 30 goals, but his 51 points do not demand a high selection. If shots matter to you, he finished 14th last season with 275.

* Patrick Sharp (F – CHI) – Only 66 points, but he was 19th on shooting with 266. He should see more of those this time around.

* Radim Vrbata (F – PHO) – He finished 20th in shooting last season with 266, but finished the year with a lousy 43 points.

* Kyle Okposo (F – NYI) – Top 30 in SOG with 249. Should push for 30 to get in this year.

The Shorty: Guys Who Get Their Time (And Their Goals) When They’re Supposed To Be Playing Defense:

* Kris Versteeg (F – TOR) – 3 of his 20 goals were less than a man last season

* Jordan Staal (F – PIT): Recorded 7 beauties in his rookie year. I came back with 2 last season.

* Chris Thorburn (F – ATL) – 4 goals scored last season. 3 short hand.

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